Special Education and Distance Learning: Supporting Students through the Pandemic

Overview & Synopsis

On April 27, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos clarified that although COVID-19 school building closures create significant challenges for the special education community, she would not recommend any waivers affecting the core tenants of IDEA, which guarantees a free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities. As the nation's seven million students with disabilities, their families and schools transition to distance learning, parents are deeply concerned about the educational progress of their children, and advocates are troubled by the lack of equity among students receiving special education services. ExcelinEd spoke to students with disabilities, parents, teachers, disability-rights advocates and national organizations to inform this resource guide, which offers solutions and best practices to education policy leaders to meet the challenges the special education community faces during the pandemic. Education leaders can consider the recommendations articulated in this resource guide to better partner with parents and help students with disabilities thrive in remote learning environments. These recommendations underscore the systemic expectation that all students can learn and make academic progress even in this challenging environment. They have the power to galvanize action that is coordinated, creative and informed by frequent communication with parents, helping them to provide the needed services and accommodations their students with special learning needs must have to succeed.